It's a dance as ritualistic as the seasons — the NCAA men's basketball tournament — ascending from schoolyard legend to a sprawling national rite. And within this yearly odyssey of upsets and underdogs, certain arenas have risen as perennial hosts, etching their names in the annals of college basketball lore. Leading this formidable lineup is the University of Dayton Arena, an unassuming titan among coliseums with a staggering 133 games hosted between 1970 and 2023. Yet, from the echoes of Municipal Auditorium's historic hardwood to the metropolitan pulse of Madison Square Garden, each venue carries its narrative, its triumphs, and the footprints of giants who once battled there.

Delve deeper into the stats, and each court's story unfolds, entwined with the drama of March Madness. Municipal Auditorium's grandeur may have waned since hosting 83 games from 1940-64, but it still wears the crown for the most national championship games. Meanwhile, Madison Square Garden, a beacon of sport since 1943 and the hotbed for 71 games, underscores New York's love affair with basketball. The Greensboro Coliseum and the now-demolished RCA Dome have also had their share of legendary matches and record-breaking crowds.

Even beyond these giants, venues like Salt Lake City's Jon M. Huntsman Center bespeak the geographical diversity and inclusivity of the tournament's reach — embracing wide American vistas beneath the staccato of bouncing balls and roaring fans. This distribution not only illustrates the breadth of March Madness influence but also how various cities have cultivated distinct basketball cultures reflective of their regions.

Delving beyond mere statistics, the pivotal role these stadiums possess branches into the socioeconomic realms of the cities they grace. For local economies, hosting games can mean a significant windfall and heightened visibility. On a grander scale, these courts are enshrined as secular temples, where each contest is a pilgrimage for fans and an initiation for new ones. The venues' legacies serve as custodian to decades of college basketball history, maintaining the sport's vibrant tradition while fueling the passions of future generations.

In the matrix of potential futures, the narrative of these venues will continue to evolve. As newer arenas rise to vie for hosting honors, they'll not only seek to match the storied reputations of their predecessors but also hope to engrain their own indelible marks upon March Madness mythology. Yet, as we prognosticate, the enduring charm of the historic arenas, no longer in the limelight, persists — much like revered elders whose tales are told with awe long after their prime.

In the cosmos of college basketball, arenas stand as more than mere structures; they are the keepers of stories, the crucibles of competition, and the settings where legacies are both crushed and crowned. As such, the grandeur of March Madness resides not only in the athletes and the games themselves but also within these venerable courts, where the spirit of the sport echoes endlessly.